History of KBIG
2019
Interfaith Panel Presentation
"On Living and Dying"
March 26, 2019
Kenmore Bothell Interfaith Group (KBIG) held our first interfaith panel discussion, a joyful opportunity for neighbors to get to know each other better and deepen our friendships. Bothell United Methodist Church graciously hosted us. After a welcome by Pastor Kristin Joyner, emcee Pastor Darren Twa of Life Fellowship Church asked questions on beliefs on death and the implications of those teachings for how we live our lives. Panelists were from four Faith communities which are members of the Kenmore Bothell Interfaith Group:
- Baha’is of Snohomish County, represented by Mary Ellen Togtman-Wood
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,Bothell Stake, represented by President Ken Williams
- Islamic Center of Bothell, represented by Imam Shaikh Abdirahman Kariye
- Northlake Lutheran Church, represented by Pastor Anja Helmon
Photo credit to Diane Heveran Rothaar
2018
Received Award for Outstanding Human Services Program
North Urban Human Services Alliance
for exemplary service & contribution to the health & welfare of North King County
KBIG was honored to receive an award from North Urban Human Services Alliance because of the way we work in the North End of King County on issues concerning the lack of appropriate housing in our region. With Northlake Lutheran Church, Kenmore, WA, Bothell United Methodist Church, Christian Family Fellowship, Sikh Centre of Seattle in Bothell, and LDS Church Bothell Bldg The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Also King County Council member Rod Dembowski and Kenmore City Council member Nigel Herbig were there to support this work of NUHSA.
(left to right) Harjinder ("Pal") Sandhawalia, Claudia Romney Bennett, Kristin Hawes Joyner, King County Council member Rod Dembowski
back row:Dennis Quinn, Anja Helmon, Kenmore City Council member Nigel Herbig
Beginning of the Kenmore Bothell Interfaith Group
The first Kenmore Bothell Interfaith Group meeting was held on November 6, 2013 at the Canyon Park Denney’s with faith leaders from the following churches in attendance:
- Bothell United Methodist Church
- Church of Christ Scientist
- Bothell First Lutheran Church
- Life Fellowship: Bethel Evangelical Free Church
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- (Interested but not available to attend) Emmanuel Presbyterian Church
Items discussed at that first meeting were:
- Information about the Bothell United Methodist's weekly "Community Kitchen. How to get more volunteers for the project
- Information about an anti-deportation rally in Seattle that Pastor Berg was going to attend.
- The decision to call this ad hoc group the BOTHELL INTERFAITH GROUP, with the goal of providing more service to the community, and to meet monthly (except summer months) for brown bag lunch meetings at different churches. Pastor Berg volunteered to host the January 7th meeting at the Bothell First Lutheran Church.
- All attendees will invite other faith leaders to the January meeting.
At the January 7, 2014 meeting, it was proposed that the group be called the Kenmore Bothell Interfaith Group or KBIG. During follow-up meetings the KBIG mission statement was formed. It is:
“An interfaith effort, including through educational efforts:
(1) To promote and provide service to the community
(2) To connect the faith groups in shared community service, and
(3) To further the spiritual strength of the community“
The Kenmore Bothell Interfaith Group now includes 16 faith groups and has been meeting monthly since that first meeting in November of 2013.
